Justice News

Franklin County Resident Pleads Guilty To Heroin Conspiracy

On March 17, 2015, George A. Mayo, 34, of West Frankfort, IL, pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging conspiracy to distribute heroin, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Evidence at the plea hearing established that Mayo was routinely obtaining heroin from co-defendant Frank R. Johnson, a/k/a "Mo." Mayo would then redistribute some of the heroin and keep some of the heroin for his own use. When Mayo was arrested in January 2014, he was found in possession of heroin.

The heroin offense carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000. Mayo is currently being held without bond, pending a June 10, 2015, sentencing hearing. Co-defendant Johnson was previously sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for his role in the heroin conspiracy.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, West Frankfort Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Amanda A. Robertson for prosecution.